Planning and Developing Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 165

trail hardening/softening, slope consideration/gradient, signage, trail ameni-
ties, access and accessibility. A number of case studies are provided to illus-
trate complexities involved with many of the above trail/route features. Given
the geography of many trails, it should not be surprising that most of these
trail design aspects take on greater prominence for nature-based as opposed
to heritage and culture-based routes, purposive and organic routes.

Route Designation and Related Policies

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of trail programs throughout the
world that aim to designate, establish, promote and preserve routes and trails.
The origins of official trail designation are found in the United States (US), but
other parts of the world have rapidly joined the cause. Although trails have
always existed since the earliest times of hominid socio-economic activity
(e.g. hunting, gathering, transhumance), as noted in the introductory chapter,
the world has undergone a significant renaissance since the mid-1900s in
developing many trails for many uses. Countless municipal, county, state and
national governments, as well as supranational alliances, have begun to develop
and promote nature- and culture-based trails by establishing legal mecha-
nisms and programs to facilitate and encourage their development (Antonson
& Jacobsen, 2014). This section describes some of the legislative actions, poli-
cies and legal implications of trail development in several countries.

European Cultural Routes Programme
With the primary aim of exhibiting and protecting Europe's cultural heri-
tage, the Cultural Routes Programme of the Council of Europe was introduced
in 1987 under the auspices of the 1954 European Cultural Convention. The
Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela was designated the first European
Cultural Route under this program. There are four primary goals of the
agenda. The first is to raise awareness of a European cultural identity based
on shared values through cultural routes that connect sites that have shaped
European identities. Second, the program promotes intercultural dialogue by
means of a better understanding of European heritage. Third, it aims to pro-
tect European heritage and improve Europeans' quality of life and socio-
economic development. Finally, it facilitates the development of heritage
tourism and enhances its role in sustainable development (Hammond, 2004;
Timothy & Saarinen, 2013).
Any signatory country of the European Cultural Convention can propose
a new trail, but any new proposal must fulfill four main criteria:

• focus on a theme that represents European values common to several

European countries;

• follow a historical route or propose a newly created route;